More Than Human

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

This tight-lipped bear lives at China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Boasting a captive population of 114 pandas, the base has begun moving some animals into a reintroduction program. Because female giant pandas are in heat for a mere 24 to 72 hours annually, Chengdu’s program is critical to the species' population of about 1,600 in the wild and captivity.

Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN
A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.
Widespread in north-central Africa, this small owl is related to the screech owls of the Americas and the scops owls of the Old World. Its closest relative, the southern white-faced owl, which replaces it in central and southern Africa, is very similar in looks but has a completely different voice. These owls are active at night, when they hunt for small prey. Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

The Hungarian puli is an ancient breed of sheepdog used to control livestock flock movement, their predatory behaviors having been modified through selective breeding to minimize their instinct to kill. The puli along with the very similar but much larger komondor would historically guard and herd livestock that was vulnerable to predators live wolves and bears. After detecting a predator, the pulic would alert the larger komodor who would then attack.

Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

Once a part of a New Zealand-based farm that bred seahorses for use in Chinese medicine, this individual was saved from an untimely demise. After the owners decided to close shop and euthanize their fish, England’s National Marine Aquarium succeeded in transferring 20 of the doomed seahorses before it was too late.

Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

Native from Argentina north to Brazil, this is one of only two armadillo species that can roll itself into a complete ball—a defense strategy to protect its underside. A tough shell made of keratin—a protein also found in animal hooves, horns, and hair, as well as human fingernails—forms its armor.

Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

Capuchins have evolved many traits that humans also exhibit. White-faced capuchins engage in “Machiavellian politics,” assigning ranks and calibrating who’s likely to side with whom, exploiting this information for personal gain. The species is known for forming social groups called coalitions that are highly aggressive toward rival groups.

Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

The overwhelming majority of the captive tiger population has been bred without regulation and has often, as in this case, been used to produce hybrids as theme park attractions. As such hybrdization would never naturally occur in the wild, questions must be raised about any possible benefits that this crossbreeding brings.

Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

Iconic as symbols of transformation, butterflies like this gold-rim swallowtail butterfly pupa are compelling both in the stasis of their chrysalis and when they emerge from their pupal stage as fully formed adults.

Photo: Photograph by Tim Flach

MORE THAN HUMAN

A book of striking animal portraits explores the magic of our bond with animals.

Mandrills exhibit some of the most extreme examples of sexual dimorphism (physical differences between male and female) in the primate order. Males can be three times the mass of females, possess larger canines, and display extremely bright skin coloration.